She didn’t know how she got small enough to use a mushroom as a house. The answer sat on the edge of her memory but no matter how hard she concentrated, it wouldn’t move within reach. It has been years, maybe centuries. She watched the tall people grow up and grow old. She never changed.
She screamed for their attention but her small voice never touched them. She climbed a tree but something stopped them from hearing her cries for help.
But, that was years ago. It wasn’t supposed to matter anymore. Maybe the stories were true. Maybe the people underground did make you remember unpleasant things. She was close then.
If you’re a writer and you find yourself stuck, looking at a photo and writing a story about it could be a good exercise for you. I wrote this short just by thinking of a series of images I took while hiking and experimenting.
The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens is beginning to be my favorite lens. I’d keep it attached to my camera all the time if it wasn’t so heavy. Hiking with that thing for several miles gets real tiring. But hailing it around has been worth it. I’m finally able to capture my dream nature macros.
Recently, I started watching hiking documentaries on YouTube. They often show close-up photos of the types of plants they find on the trail, especially mushrooms. So, when I hiked the Hudson Highlands recently, I kept my eyes on the ground.
I’ll be setting aside these photos to use in a story. Maybe a character comes across a rare mushroom known for its distinctive bright red top. Cooking it releases its ability to heal almost any wound or sickness.
Or, the Meadow Slayer. It hides in a field of similar looking plants and absorbs the life-force of anyone that gets too close
Visit my Behance profile to see more photos. Maybe they will inspire your story.
